That Time Of Year Again

[bobbybigmac]

Took my son off at the music store for his bass lesson today. I figured he may listen and learn more from a real teacher instead of me. As I waited I wandered over to the sales dept for a snoop around and a daydream fantasy shop. All the sales staff were quite busy. Instruments piled high. The rack full of gleaming axes. Lots of cardboard boxed combo kits. (Get that Axe and amp and rock the world.) all blocking the aisles, waiting to be taken home, like a puppy at the pet store. Parents looking confused and uncomfortable while the sounds of the ever present "legend in his own mind" devastated the opening lick to Crazy Train......

Maybe you'd like Football instead of Band class Johnny....

Then it dawned on me.
It's that time of year again..... School has started and parents are dragged out to look at renting or buying a band instrument. I looked around and sure enough there was parents every where asking questions and keen sale staff giving suggestions and opinions. The kids looked wide eyed, almost kinda Christmasy like.

So I hovered close to one gaggle and over heard the salesman asking his stock questions... what instrument ?....what kind? ...how much?... then my ear caught one kid saying " I dunno, bass I guess " I leaned in a little closer and there it was... " what kind of bass ? " Of course the ubiquitous response was muttered

" I dunno "

Okay says the sales guy, and I knew he was just warming up the sales patter ( start casting )...
Well there's Fender and Gibson, but Fender is the standard bass sound you hear, he stated. Now there's your Precision bass with it's classic thump sound or if you prefer the smooth cool sound of a Jazz bass or there's a Gibson EBO with it's classic deep rich bass sound. He pointed high ,skyward ,to the heavenly racks where only the most expensive basses await. Then there's the Hofner Beatle bass... ( work it, work it ) He went on explaining pickup types and scale length and blah blah blah., you know Paul McCartney........ He plugged in a few and displayed his well crafted favourite demo lick. Hear the thump ? Hear the funk ? Just like Flea......

After about 10 minutes I was just about to walk away when the kid pointed at something on the floor.

Was this it ? Was the end near ? Bite, bite... come on...

Did the kid make his choice based on the salesman's advise?
Was it the thump or the cool jazz tones that swayed the kid ?
Maybe the deep classic tone of the EBO ????? ( comon comon I gotta know... and pee )

I strained my ear to hear the glorious release of the kid's submission.......
and then it was all over..... the kid's mouth opened ....

" I like red. Can I get the red one ? "

[robb3566]

He didn't really say 'Paul McCarthy,' did he?

[bobbybigmac]

Originally Posted by robb3566

He didn't really say 'Paul McCarthy,' did he?

He did say Paul McCartney. Sorry my bad spelling.

My favorite line was the " classic sound of the EBO "

My observation may sound like a harsh critique of the salesman. That was not why I posted. I just thought it was funny that the boy's final choice was color over style and sound.

[Veitchy]

It is ironic. Johnny ramone was similar when asked about the gear he used to record the first album.

The blue one, if you're interested.

In all seriousness though, I think its good that he just wants to make music.

It shows that he still has a few years in him before GAS hits

[Old Cane]

I like red, too. What's wrong with that? Uh, unless it's an EBO in red. I think the kid's criteria in choosing is equally as valid as the saleman's (who plays what).